27 & 28 of February

Melbourne Town Hall

Organised by the Coalition for Community Energy, the Community Energy Congress is the premier event on Australia’s community energy calendar. Congress 2017 will bring together up to 800 people to strengthen this budding sector. Together we will share information, develop skills, foster new networks, celebrate success and plan for action.

Grassroots energy enterprises, which number more than 80 nation-wide, harness the power of communities to increase local energy security, bolster regional development partnerships, enhance community cohesion, reduce carbon emissions and work towards a just energy transition.

Who is this for?

Congress 2017 aims to inspire a host of community energy advocates, from the experts who pioneered the sector, to those who are just starting their foray into the community energy space. Groups developing projects will benefit from the education and networking opportunities, while people interested in starting a project will have everything they need at their fingertips.

Congress 2017 is also for organisations looking to partner with and support community energy, including renewable energy developers, policy makers, network companies, retailers, councils, NGOs and regulators, lawyers, financiers and more. There is something for everyone.

Our Approach

The C4CE Community Energy Congress won’t be two days of talking heads. It is not just a showcase; it’s a living, breathing experience where people will be able to collaborate, engage and share their experiences and tools. Newcomers to the sector can be inspired, learn and get involved. Policy makers and mainstream energy actors can find out how to work with the innovative thinkers in the community sector.

There will be practical and off-site sessions, master classes, business model training and workshops on dealing with key barriers. This is the sector’s defining event and is not to be missed. Be sure to check-out the program here.

Congress 2017 Highlights

We’re excited to announce future thinker and community energy global leader Søren Hermansen as our first keynote speaker. Soren is from the award winning Energy Academy on Samso Island in Denmark and author of “Commonity= Common + Community” a book about modern commons and how to understand them. In 2007, Samso island became the world’s first 100% renewable island. In 2008 Soren was recognised as Time Magazine’s Hero of the Environment. Come along and be inspired.

Local councils interested in community energy will benefit enormously from this masterclass gaining valuable lessons from projects that are already operating. A special focus will be on the Lismore Community Solar Farm model and its engagement, finance and governance structures.

Could your community use $30,000 to fund your renewable energy project?

Energy Locals is a new social enterprise energy retailer that’s supporting Australian communities to make energy fairer, cleaner and cheaper. They offer a simple way for community energy groups to fund local projects on an ongoing basis. To celebrate the Congress, Energy Locals is offering community energy groups an exclusive opportunity to receive additional funding towards your project.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) are offering accommodation and registration support for NSW groups keen to attend the congress. This offer expires 5 December, so get in quick! Head to the NSW OEH websiteto find out more.
They have agreed to sponsor the registration and accommodation for one person per group at Congress 2017. However, both we and OEH hope that more than one person from each group will attend. Indeed, the hotel rooms accommodate two people, so this is a great opportunity to buddy-up!

If your organisation would like to find out more about Congress 2017 sponsorship options or ways to support people to attend please get in touch at secretariat@c4ce.net.au.

The second Community Power Conference in 2017 will be an exciting event as so much has happened since the first Conference in 2014. A great opportunity to come up to date in this important area.

Monica Oliphant AOAdj A/Prof University of South Australia and Fellow Charles Darwin University

Attending the first Community Energy Congress in Canberra in 2014 ignited a passion for Community Energy that has progressed our Sunshine Coast Community Solar group to the final stages of implementing our first project. I am really looking forward to the next congress as an opportunity to collaborate with other like minded groups within this emerging field.

Leanne HellmrichSunshine Coast Community Solar

It was the 2014 Community Energy Congress that made me realise we could make a community owned energy retailer happen. I strongly recommend it to all interested in community renewables.

Alison CrookChair and co-founder of Enova Community Energy Ltd

What an event! Two days connecting with everyone in the community energy sector across Australia. So much talent, enthusiasm and so many great ideas to fuel our community’s work.

Lawrence McIntoshProject Leader, Solarshare

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This site was created on Aboriginal land. For any further questions about the Congress please feel free to call Sarah Dixon. Tel: (02) 9419 4889, Mob: 0401 716 657.